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Beating a Scope into Submission
#5344324
10/06/14 03:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499 |
Recently I came into possession of a BSA 'Catseye" 4-16x40 scope that came attached to a rifle I was buying, a Savage 25T in .223 Winchester.
The scope gave me fits.
Even though it had 1/4" clicks at 100 yards, I could get it to shoot either 1/2" to the left of the bull, or 1/2" to the right - but not on the bull itself. I did get good groups, though.
Then I took the gun home and cleaned it... When I returned to the range, the elevation was OK, but now it was shooting 3" to the opposite side of the bull from where it had been!
Scope mounts and rings checked out OK... I got to thinking, waving away the wood smoke that this generated and finally thought about tapping the scope next to the adjustment barrels with the butt of a plastic-handled screwdriver.
Next time out, I would give the scope a few good taps with the butt of the screwdriver handle after every adjustment, and it started behaving itself. Now it shoots directly into the center of the bullseye, and stays put between shooting sessions.
It just needed a little judicious, gentle tapping to start working well enough to get me by for the time being. It gets all of the internal parts settled into place so that it holds its adjustments.
I thought I'd mention this technique in case somebody has a misbehaving scope that they can't replace right away.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344391
10/06/14 03:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273
blackcoal
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 9,273 |
Love the story. Interesting that you spent the time to get it right. Course if you just bought a $1000 scope like most members suggest then you probably would not have learned anything like doing it yourself. Only be out $1000. Most members will be shocked that you found it worthwhile.
The Greatest Enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344472
10/06/14 04:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302
Kbar Ag Service
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 302 |
Back years ago, tapping your scope while sighting it in was common practice. Optics have come along way but I still do it out of habit.
PRIVATELY OWNED TAHC permitted feral swine holding facility. Serving Gulf Coast and South Texas ranchers, farmers, hunters, and residents with abatement. Disposal, Traps and in-field pick-up service available.
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: Kbar Ag Service]
#5344481
10/06/14 04:40 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200
dawaba
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200 |
So do I, even on the expensive scopes.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: dawaba]
#5344522
10/06/14 04:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542 |
So do I, even on the expensive scopes. So do I. Except on scopes that are supposed to track.. I don't tap on that one.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344536
10/06/14 05:08 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716
BigPig
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716 |
I've been in that habit for years, I even tap my Aimpoins and Eotechs, a lot of time it's with the ground when going from standing to prone. They hold their zero perfectly so it must help
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344549
10/06/14 05:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542
redchevy
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,542 |
We have a mess of old leupolds. If you adjust it to go say 4 inches to the right and don't tap on it, your first shot after the adj. it wont change point of impact second shot it will move a little and then in a few more shots it will move the rest of the way. Once zeroed ive had great luck with them, but you cant "dial" for elevation like some scopes.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344604
10/06/14 05:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 149
M Wilson
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 149 |
tapping your optic to settle the internalshas always been step one after i adjust it
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344643
10/06/14 06:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,107
catslayer
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,107 |
hmm.... never heard this....
Sombody smells like fried borritos...
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344839
10/06/14 08:23 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,642
QuitShootinYoungBucks
THF Celebrity
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,642 |
First I ever heard of this was Peter Capstick talking about sighting in a .375 H&H for a client to take a leopard with. Read that book in the early 80s.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344895
10/06/14 08:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,938
Classic Rocks
Pro Tracker
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I do it on older scopes if adjusting out away (counter clockwise)from its previous position. Older reticles seem to stick sometimes. Not sure if they have some type of grease or if whatever spring mechanism holds tension on the reticle gets a little memory. My old 4x Redfields are the worst.
Last edited by Classic Rocks; 10/06/14 08:59 PM.
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344948
10/06/14 09:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,561
Slow Drifter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,561 |
I still do that out of habit, usually with the base of the shell I just fired.
"I have no idea what WW-III will be fought with, but WW-IV will be fought with sticks and stones." A. Einstein
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: charlesb]
#5344962
10/06/14 09:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,499
charlesb
OP
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OP
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Posts: 1,499 |
My wife's birthday is coming up soon, and she probably would not understand if I bought her a new scope for my rifle... Women are strange that way, but you've still got to love them.
On account of that, I'll have to wait for a couple of weeks before I can replace the BSA with something a little nicer. It will get me by until then, and then I guess my son and I will have fun taking it apart. - I wouldn't foist the thing off on some unsuspecting shooter.
Now I think I'm seeing why I got a good deal on the rifle... The previous owner probably blamed the gun when it was really just the scope having problems. The rifle shoots bug-holes, there's nothing wrong with it.
The new scope will have to wait though... She's wanting perfume, so I've been looking at the big bottles of Hoppes #9.
Last edited by charlesb; 10/06/14 09:48 PM.
Kind regards, charlesb
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Re: Beating a Scope into Submission
[Re: Slow Drifter]
#5345185
10/06/14 11:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14,199
tth_40
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 14,199 |
I still do that out of habit, usually with the base of the shell I just fired. Been doing that same thing for years.
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
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